I just checked, and GTA IV has an ESRB rating of "Mature". So "young kids" shouldn't be playing this game, and they shouldn't be watching movies like The Expendables, or John Rambo.

I'm not sure how this is a question of content control rather than parental control.

You'll see from previous posts that i believe it's almost ALWAYS a question of parental control and discipline or rather, lack thereof. It's not the games fault. Just like having access or permission to view R rated movies or kids picking up poor language from their parents, disdain for a gender, race or their smoking and drinking habits. These things almost always come from parenting.

Take away the premise that they "shouldn't" be playing these games, acknowledge the fact that they do and argue that they don't possible blur a child's vision between reality and gaming.

Again, it's not an excuse, it's a possible reason that contributes to the these tragic events.

A lot of those videos on youtube have the players voices recorded and you can clearly tell it's a minor playing the game. And they think it's so funny that they take the time to post a video of their sprees on youtube looking for praise. - This points to lack of parenting, family interaction, parental praise and support.

I'm not so ignorant that i think kids who get all of these things from parents don't do these things for attention from their peers as well, but if there parents are on the ball, the kid won't be playing GTA in the first place.

I just checked, and GTA IV has an ESRB rating of "Mature". So "young kids" shouldn't be playing this game, and they shouldn't be watching movies like The Expendables, or John Rambo.

I'm not sure how this is a question of content control rather than parental control.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MP0WER

You'll see from previous posts that i believe it's almost ALWAYS a question of parental control and discipline or rather, lack thereof. It's not the games fault. Just like having access or permission to view R rated movies or kids picking up poor language from their parents, disdain for a gender, race or their smoking and drinking habits. These things almost always come from parenting.

It amazes me how willing some parents are to give games like Grand Theft Auto or similar games with a mature rating to their young children. I certainly enjoy playing games like GTA, but don't think young impressionable children necessarily should be. Almost every parent had the same excuse that their kid would play the game at a friend's house, so why not just give them the game anyway. That thought process still baffles me.

I'd like to blame guns, video games, movies, toy guns, single mothers, absentee fathers, mental health problems, media attention and internet forums. All should be banned. Can't buy any kind of gun, no violence in games or movies, parents will be legally required to remain married, you get locked up if you have a mental disease, and no spreading of dangerous ideas. Nevermind that 99.999999% of people can deal with those problems without going on a shooting rampage, and to many of us they actually improve our lives. Society would be greatly improved if we were all treated like psychotic children. It just makes sense.

I'd like to blame guns, video games, movies, toy guns, single mothers, dead-beat dads, mental health problems and internet forums. Nevermind that 99.999999% of people can deal with those problems without going on a shooting rampage. We should all be treated like psychotic children. Makes perfect sense.